93+ points, View From the Cellar
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About the Wine
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Critic Reviews
93+ points, View From the Cellar
The 2015 vintage of cabernet sauvignon from Ric Forman, which was his forty-ninth harvest, is a beautifully pure and refined wine on the nose, wafting from the glass in a complex blend of cassis, black cherries, cigar smoke, a fine base of gravelly soil, tobacco leaf, just a hint of eucalyptus and a very discreet framing of new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and focused, with a lovely core, excellent soil signature, ripe, suave tannins and a long, vibrant and very discreetly warm finish. This is listed at 14.9 percent octane, but seems a full point lower than that on both the nose and palate. It is already quite complex out of the blocks, 20 but is still a puppy and deserves at least a decade in the cellar to allow it to blossom properly. Impressive juice! 2028-2080+.
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About The Winery
Influenced early on by the wines and winemaking practices of the Bordeaux region of France, Ric Forman has consistently sought a similar perfection for the wines of Forman Vineyard. Ric founded Forman Vineyard in 1983 to fulfill his dream of producing, as a sole proprietor, small quantities of classically made Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1978, after a 3-year search of Napa Valley for the perfect location, Ric purchased the current winery/vineyard site, which is perched on the ridge at the base of Howell Mountain overlooking the town of St. Helena. Overall, Ric Forman grows his grapes on 88.5 acres of land split between three different parcels, each one planted to the four Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. These locations each contribute their subtle differences to the wine, the whole of which is a synergy of complexity. Thus, with a wonderfully situated vineyard and deliberately planned cellar, Ric is fulfilling his dream and is constantly vigilant in personally making sure that each step is without compromise in the pursuit of producing the finest quality possible from his estate.
